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,| LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 
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I UNITED STATES OF AMEEICa/ 






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BY 



W. p. CHILTON, JR. 







KciD ¥oiit : 

JOHN ROSS & CO., PUBLISHERS^ 

No. 27 Rose Street. 

1875. 







Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 

WM. P. CHILTON, Jr., 

In the Otfice of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 



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so UNIVERSALLY READ AND ADOPTED, 

WILL ADMIT OF 

NO DENOMINATIONAL DEDICATION 

OF AXY POEM, SUGGESTED EITHER BY 

t5 lenutifMt fan^uagf o![ il| Biiuotiona! ^cntimcnt: 



IN APPROVAL OF THAT LIBERALITY OF OPINION 
WHICH HOLDS MEliE SECTARIAN DIFFERENCES IN SUBORDINATION TO 

THE SPIRIT AND COMON Mi OF CORlSIimY,' 

THIS VOLUME IS RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED BY 

THE AUTHOR 

TO 

The Church Militant. 






REFACE 




Vl^^'yil^ll I't'ii'ai'ds tlie old and new dis- 

|(%^^^\ peiisatioiis of the Bible as linked 

^/^^^^t'^ in a bond of indissoluble union ; 

and the Bible in its entirety, as 

at the foundation of the Christian Religion. 

The two systems of the old and new polity, 

though different in form, are harmonious in 

spirit : the one is typical ; the other, but a 

fulfillment of the first. 

If some of the interesting and leading 



6 pRF.FACh:. 

events of the Bible liave been successfully in- 
terwoven with the devotional prayer of our 
Saviour, the result should rather be com- 
mended, than the execution of the plan 
rigidly criticised. Tiie author is aware of the 
diihculty of embracing a subject so compre- 
hensive, in a space so limited, and of adjust- 
ing a |)oetic sentiment to an acrostic form so 
elaborate ; but the work undertaken, the 
manner of its execution is submitted to the 
impartial judgment of the candid aud intel- 
ligent reader. 







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;£>, 



HE |J!t.:ORD'S 'ia^RAYERii 



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I. 

SWEET, celestial Home— yon oilded sky— 
U ndiiDiiied in radiance for endless years, 
R obed bright in beanty for eternity ! 
^E ain would I sing the Bliss which there appears, 
A way from life's unceasing cares and tears ; 
T he Peace which lasting springs in that abode — 
H ome ever blest — where sin nor cares corrode ! 



8 Ma.ysions of the Skies: 

II. 

E acli mptiired glance of the uiiclonded eye 

R evealetli beauty in that realm above, 

\W here sliining' orl)s in fadeless splendor vie, 

H armonions round their radiant centre move, 

O bedient to the sure l)ehests of love ; 

M 11 joined with music of the spheres, in time 

Roll on, in pure accord and sacred chime. 

III. 

T hou spirit that the bright seraphic throng 
Unspirest with accent sweet, and ghtdsome praise, 
N ow lend thine aid enchanting ; may m}^ song 
if eaven's poesy portray in beauteous lays, 
E nrapt by blissful dream of halcyon days ; 
A 11 vain must be, save with thy sacred tire, 
Y ain else I'd now invoke my humble lyre. 



Ax Ac/,'f)S'/'/c ox r//r: /,o/:/)'s /'/:a }/■:/,'. i] 

lY. 

E iikiiullc new, tliy hviiilit, niinclic flanio, 

Nor cease to liiincr near wliilc I jKH'tray, 

Si ow mail, in liis creation pnro, and aim, 

A lid Godlike iniai>e made, tlio' liuman way, 

L ost tlic; l)rii>lit Joys of Eden's blissfnl day ; 

L ost liis liiiili state, and was condemned to roam 

O 'er the wide world, far from his peaceful liome : 



AV hen from the l)eaiite<nis scenes of Paradise 

'D riven, he moved in i)enitence and ]>ain 

M cfore his ]\[aker ; no resplendent prize 

E nrapturinii' him, nor cheeriiiii' hope to uain 

vT he iovs <d" Eden ; till in heaveiilv strain 

H is soul is (juickened, by the voic(^ which i^avo 

Y ounii Hope U> cheer, Avliile Jouriieviii_i>" to the 



ura\e. 



10 Mansions of tiik Skies: 

YT. 

m or olieers more sweeth' tlian the Elysian ij-oal 
A waitiiii;' the redeemed, beyond the i>i'ave — 
M aiisioii of rest — wlieve dwells tlie sinless soul, 

E nraptured evermore, with liim who gave 

(fp'' 

'm his beauteous land of bliss, this power to save. 

H ope fondly points to that mysterious plan, 

Y on pearly realm and l)Iissful home for man. 

YII. 

^' 

m nowlediie serai^hic, there alone ean i)rv 

I nto Kmi)yre;in sjih'ndors beaming- far, 

Never ap|)earin_<; to the iinite eye; 

(t od is the i>Taeious i^iver; no rude jar 

1) otb seem alonii' tliose i>iddy heii>hts ; l)ut star 

O'er star revolvini;, each at his command, 

M akes sure the i;lorv of that l>etter bind. 



J.v Ai'h'osTK' ON THE Loini's Pi;Ayi-:h\ 11 

YIII. 

%,i\n man, so frail a ('rcaturc of tlie dust, 

'ercast //crc l)v tlie great celestial sphere 
M ade bv the skill /nspired, that doth adjust 

E aeli world of varying /ight — eau man declare 
C here's no Creator of rtiese works so fair ? 
H ow grandly speak the brilliant orbs which span 
Y on spacious realm, that Clod alone dotli scay< ? 

IX. 

'W h() is this (iod! whence sprang this mighty 
power, 

1 nfused in all created realms and space, 

L eaving its print on every tree and tl(^^^ cr, 
L ingering on nature's ever- varied face, 
fi earing, along with l)eauty, matchless grace, 
E nlivening sweet <uir h(nneward journey on, 
Id otli plainly seem to Deity alone. 



12 



J/. I .v.svo.VN o/< Till': Skiks: 



X. 

O ]) yoii l)rii;lit pcai'ly Uniiio and s(M'aj»li land 
J^ () Idciiiisli dotli ai)})('ar; and ani^cds trace 
E acli work ix'rfccted by the skilful hand 
)|i) f I'rovidenee ; tho' sin did onee end)i'ace 
^o meagre part of that celestial jdace, 
^E iiibitterini>- Heaven's peace and holy love, 
A nd rousing the angelic hosts above. 



XI. 

K ound the Majestic Throne sin could not dwell ! 
T he great angelic throng poured forth, as onc^ 
Heaven-inspired, thc^ (lodlike .Alichael 
Against thc^ embattled hosts of Al)addoii, ^ 



Swiftly to m(M't Heaven's now rebelli(His son. 
|, 11 countless throngs the seraphs soon j)roclaim 
T he ('aus(^ triumphant in Jehovah's name. 



J.v AcinisTic (i.\ ■/•///■: Loint's I'h'Ayi:i\ 1'3 

XT I. 

1, 11 (M)ii(lav(' holy, \\;is ;i Just dccrco, 
S ondiiii;' tlic (li'aiioii liciicc that hlcst abode; 
I 11 chains of terror, he was h)uth to sec 
New evil, whieli his daiiiiiiuii' <iuilt forebode; 
<H eaveuward lie i>a/ed, in dire, reYeni-efiil iikkmI; 
E I'll hope has Aaiiished, and profound desi)air 
A wakes his soul, in dismal inusini;- there. 

Xlll. 

X ainly these restless, l)anished si)irits seek, 

E 'en \qX\ the will of Heaven to oppose; 

X o ghiddinj; words the cheerless ones could speak, 

jgrieviiiii' that their celestial reinn must close; 

I n vain thev writhe, and dare to iiiter[)ose ; 

Vainly they seek to change the dire command, 

E \'r driviiiii' them from the briiiht heavenlv land. 



14: JfA^'SJoys of the Sk/es : 

xiy. 

^!y nitcd in tlic Ixmds of lioly love, 
8 orapliic praise now blends Avitli joy unfeigned, 
Jl hat discord, from tli(^ liappy scenes above, 
H ad to Apollyon a\ inged its way, and reigned 
I n distant realms, where hope ne'er more obtained : 
8 weet c<nitrast springs in Joy and peaceful rest, 
welling in sinless regions of the blessed. 

XY. 

A way from God's bright realm the dragon turned — 
Y et pined he for the glory of command 



n high ; deep thirst for power Avithin him 
burned : 
U nnumbered schemes to repossess that laiul 
R encAved his strength and his despairing band ; 
^B efeated still, in each fond hope to reign, 
A mbition leads liiin other Avorlds to gain. 



Ai\ Ac/.'osT/c ()\ THE Lord's Pnaveh. 15 

XYT. 

1 11 darkness deep, and wild despair now chained, 

L iiigered no hope witliin his guilty lu'east ; 

Y et potent still for wrong, he ne'er refrained — 

T> eeanse of his dire ruin — to arrest 

R easoiiV fell sway, wliich made him so oppressed : 

Each aim was liis,and sought this end aloiu — 

Against his God, to rear his dismal throne. 

XYII. 

D welling in sullen grandeur, noAV supreme 

.'^ mong the fallen angel spirits there; 

N e'er ceasing, as a wild, impetuous stream, 

D ashing its raging current far and near, 

% iercelv to war 'gainst all to Heaven dear ; 

O 'er fairest flelds his emissaries niove. 

Resolved against the beauteous land of lov(^ 



IC 3lA:\s/()ys of the A'aya'n .• 

XYITT. 
G od fjisliioned now flic eartli, by sweet conniiaiid, 
I 11 form and 1)eanty peerless ; and l)v word 
Vision of wonders gave, tliat o'er tlie land 
E aeli day were formed — fair handwork of the 

Lord — 
^iJ nrivalled wisdom of the Triniie (lod ! 
S ix days in all, ereatioii He eould span, 
Mil seventh He rested, and gave Ihis man. 

XIX. 

U ]K)n this new-made orl), a |)aradise, 
Redolent with odoi's sweet from flowery vale, 
)i| hat Ixn-e the impress of the bending skies, 
R eceiving loveliness, whieli did regale 
E aeli tree and meadow, shrnl) and blossom frail ; 
Shone forth a peaeeful home, with joys replete. 
Perchance, whc^-e love the soul would ever grei^t. 



A^' Acrostic on the Lord's Prayer. 17 

XX 

A mid tliis blissful scene and wondrous frame — 

S weet liome of gladness and of works so fair — 

S atan, in Eden comes, with artful name, 

E nticing Eve, of matcliless beauty there ; 

S moothly lu^ speaks, and fills her soul with care. 

A, 11 his vile counsels, veiled in deep disguise, 

S eem thus to shiue in livery of the skies. 

XXL 



^v; hen evening's shade its mantle threw o'er day — 
E re nightfall — Adam moved 'mong favored bowers 
•% orlorn, with saddened heart, oppressed : no ray 
O f hope was his, nor cheer from earth's sweet 

flowers ; 
R est came ne'er more, but long and Aveary hours. 
(t od's mercy still prevailed, as he did move, 
lu silence pure, along tlie tremldiug grove. 



18 Mansions op the Skies : 

XXII. 

V oice of JelioYjili ! dread commanding' tone ! 
E den's Mr plains are filled with aAve ]n-ofound, 
5| o hear the sentence from the sovereign throne, 
H arrowing the soul in dark transgression found. 
O n the vile serpent Eve's first sins rehound ; 
S o Adam, h\ Eve's siren voice so sweet 
E ntranced, W\e long-forhidden fruit did eat. 

XXIII. 

\w here now^ is hope in Eden's beauteous plan ^ 

H as reason yielded now to fell despair % 

O h no ! God a dear promise gives to man : 

% he onlv Son, who made the earth so fair — 

R edeemer of mankind — descends to hear, 

E 'en on His soul so pure, the sinner's l)lame, 

S in to atone, and share the culprif s shame. 



An Acrostic on the Lord's Prayer. 19 

XXIY. 

P lire pjiradise on earth no more could be 

A joyous home for man — l)ut h^st estate ; 

8 oiTow and toil was now Heaven's just decree, 

8 ubscribed and sealed, whicli angels thus relate, 

fK, s Cherubim attest the saddened fate. 

O <xl, pitying tlu^n, a cheering hope doth lend, 

A s the grieyed pair their dismal way descend. 

XXY. 

Inspired Avitli liope new Paradise to gain, 

X ow promised of the l)right celestial land, 

8 weet incense, blent with music's charming strain, 

T o Heayen ascends ; and there Avith seraphs' band. 

Ignited song, resounds the golden strand: 

8 weetly the answering spirit tills the soul 

Anew with hope of the celestial goal. 



-^'J 3Iansioa''S of the /Skies: 

xxyi. 

]^ ew liope and love, with vVbcl's incense i)nre, 
T> awn brightly now, and point to climes of rest, 
^ nstrons A\'itli glory always to endnre, 
Enriched with treasnre of divine l)eqnest — 
A peacefnl, liai)i)y lion^e, forever blest, 
D own from the golden realm — the Great White 

Throne — 
90 nmingled rays of mercv, lingering, shone. 

XXYII. 

8 Aveet spirit-! from thy lofty sjdiere serene, 

^ ow linger o'er this heart coinmnnion ])nre, 

O f man and Creator ; this gloried scene, 

T hat wakes in ecstasy the sonl, secnre 

^ n its bright realm, where sin can ne'er allnre : 

X e'er sweeter chime along Heaven's ArcliAvay ran, 

T lian w elcomed this blest gift of hope to man. 



An Acrostic on the Lord's Prayer. 21 

XXYIII. 

Ycr the land, in rapid course of time, 

,1 be vilest sins prevailed, in deed and aim ; 
E vil imaginings, that lead to crime, 
Making Jeliovali grieve that He could claim, 
1* ercliance, fcAV subjects loyal to His name : 
T ho' Enoch, faithful, walked in peace with (lod, 
And righteous Xoah escaped the mighty tlood. 

XXIX. 

T liis huml)le seer a Avarning voice did raise, 

1 n pity for tlie souls of men deliled ; 
O A er the land, foretelling Avoful days — 

]Sr or did they cease from sin, Init e'en revih'd, 
^ ecause of unbelief, Avhich them beguiled ; 
IT ntil the pangs of deep remorse unfold 
T he saddened fate the messenger foretold. 



22 3Iaksiui\s of the >Skies: 

XXX. 

® eridiiii'' once, tliesc men the world Avonld cive 
Vj ven the face to see — h>ni>- hmghed to .scorn. 
L ingered with them a hopt^, tho' faint, to live ; 
I n vain they cry, and l)itterly they nionrn ; 
Vainly noAv wish that man had ne'er been horn. 
E re long the Avrathful torrents of the sky 
R nsh o'er the plains, and slirond the monntains 
high ! 

XXXT. 
'M nseen, bright seraphs weep the dreadfnl fall. 
S weetly there spans the cnrtain of the sky — 
M air charming sight — the l)ow of promise ; all, 
R egaled in matchless l)eauty for the eye 
O f man — a shining covenant on high — 
M easuring with gorgeons arch both laiul and sea, 
S 'en gilds all natnre's choice and verdant lea. 

(Mr ~ 



An AcL'osTir on the Lobd's Prayer. 23 

XXXTI. 

V iewin.i>' the token beautiful, that i;h^aiiis 
I n ])rilliant cohn's o'er tlie expanse of l)lue ; 
L ove springs forth freely as the gushinii' streanss 
% lowing thro' tiowery lea of varying hue, 

'er lairest tields, refreshing each ane^v ; 
R ekindled hope awakes in every lireast, 

g hat all mankind through Abrani shall he blessed. 

XXXIII. 

H ow merciful, O (Tod ! Thou art to man 

1 n all Thy ways ! hoAV bountiful in grace ! 
X^ e'er failing, as in Israel's chosen plan — 

E gypt's fair land, when fled, and I*haraoh's face — 
g n timely gifts, thy sons, thy love could trace ; 
S o, as we journey to the promised land, 
51 hv loviuii' grace we seek, and guiding hand. 



24 3fANSlONS OF THE SkIES: 

XXXIY. 

H ope gleams more briglitly witli each fleeting yeai*, 

E re long to see, as tanglit in })ropliecy, 

^living of the world, Messiah, now appear 

I n ])ower, vet love and sacred majesty ; 

N e'er more to yield His royal sceptred sway ; 

Ct o forth in meekness, rightfnlly to claim, 

I) ominion trne, in His loyed Eather\s name. 



O snre ])rophetic token, star divine ! 

M agi and angels greet thee in the skies — 

9l s the bright herald and celestial sign, 

N^ ear lingers where the holy infant lies, 

D azzling the sight in glad tho' strange snrprise. 

W hrongh bonndless realms the joyons tidings ring, 

H ailing the advent of Iimmanuel, Ki:n^g. 



An Acrostic on the Lord's Prayer. 25 

XXXYL 

E re long tlie power of Deity is seen 

m erfected, in Messiah's human form : 

O h ! blending pure of Heaven in nature's mien, 

Wherein is strength to quell the raging storm; 

E 'en poAver the troubled Avaters to transform ; 

R elief bestows by all atoning grace, 

A nd death makes joy in Jesus' shining face, 

XXXYII. 

X or was Immanuel, Prince, from sorrow free. 

D esccnded He from Heaven, for sacrifice ; 

(fp) 

% he bitter cup of dark Gethsemane 

H e drank ; then turned in love His tearful eyes 

E 'en to His Eatlier, and for mercy cries ! 

% reat tho' His grief and mental agony, 

L ove crowns His brow with royal majesty, 



26 3IANSI0NS OF THE SkIES: 

xxxvin. 

O n the accursed tree our Saviour hangs ! 

E acked is his soul witli anguish and Avitli pain ! 

Y on Heaven grows bhick Avith anger o'er His pangs, 
■pf, rownino- to see the Laml) of God now shiin ! 

O 'er Hiin bright angels bend in lengthened train ; 

R ent is the veil, Avhile God's anointed dies ! 

>E arth quakes with fear, and martyred saints arise ! 

XXXIX. 

Y eril}', now, the Son of God is slain ! 

E 'en from the sombre portals i>f the grave, 

K ekindled love inspires the seraph train 

M way the stone to roll ; and Heaven gave 

X ew power to Him, Avho fallen man did save. 

Despised He was, still Mary Magdalene 

lE 'en lincfers where His bodv once had lain. 



AsY ACJWSTJC ox THE Loiili's PjiAYER. 



27 



XL. 

V isioiis of fadeless light hevoiid tlie skies 

E nrn])ture Him, wreathed in iiiniiortal peaee ; 

R ests He on earth, save as few kindred ties 



S^ 



wake His soul to sweet eoiunnmion's bliss. 



M ajestie riscni from His dark decease, 

E ternal glory on His way attends ! 

X ow his joyed spirit with the Father l)h'nds. 




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